Structural analysis is usually carried out by a strength-of-materials approach that allows complex 3-D structures to be modelled adequately for design needs in a single dimension. However, this approach is not extensively used in geotechnical engineering, partly because 3-D media (soil, rock) are present, but more importantly because until recently the methods necessary to carry out this form of analysis did not exist.In the last ten years efforts at modelling practical problems in foundation analysis using a strength-of-materials approach have developed the concept of the conical bar